Method in the manufacture of matches



United States Patent [72] Inventor ArneWallberg Jonkoping, Sweden [21 Appl. No. 700,094 [22] Filed Jan. 24,1968

[45] Patented Novtl7, 1970 [73] Assignee lndustrilahoratoriet Aktiebolag Jonkoping, Sweden [32] Priority Feb. 2, 1967 [33 1 Sweden [3 l 1,470/67 V [54] METHOD IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES 22 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

l,663,978 3/1928 Friede etal. 144/50 FOREIGN PATENTS 64,50] 9/1959 lndia Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost AttorneyCushman, Darby & Cushman ABSTRACT: ln the manufacture of matches each comprising a core of solid material, and a surface layer of a combustible material which liquifies and/or gasifies under the influence of the heat developed at the combustion of the match. said matches are subjected to a treatment through which the melting or gasifying surface layer material of the burning match is maintained in the combustion zone. This may be brought about by increasing, through said treatment, the surface of the match and/or the viscosity of the melting material. The core material may be a web of veneer or hard cardboard which is first divided into strips or filaments which are subsequently subdivided into splints or bookmatch combs.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 INVENTOR 44,9444 M1155 M ATTORNEYS 1 METHOD IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES pieces, each comprising at least one splint, onto which core material the combustible surface layer is applied, which mainly consists of aparaffinlike oil product which melts or gasifies under the influence of the heat developed at the combustion of the match splint.

Matches-of the kind referred to above are disclosed in the Indian Patent specification 6450l'which relates to synthetic splints, which consist of a core and a sheath and which may have a triangular cross section. The core may consist e.g. of paper, wood pulp or paper pulp. The sheath may consist of a combustible, synthetic, polyethylene, to which fillers may have been added, and it may be applied to the core by spraying, rolling or pasting or by immersing the core in a melt of the sheath material simultaneously with or after the manufacture of the core. According to the patent specification splints having a triangular section may be rolled between a circular-cylindrical roller having a smooth surface and a circular-cylindrical roller the surface of which exhibits grooves with a triangular cross section extending closely beside each other. The splints according to this patent specification appear to he a pure desk product" which has never been made in practice, in any case not on a commercial scale.

The principal object of the invention is to reduce the costs, particularly the costs of material, in the manufacture of match splints and matches. The principal component of the match splints and the matches according to the invention is cellulosic material, particularly cardboard, as is apparent from the above. This material, however, entails several problems in respect of flame height, etc. These problems are solved by subjecting the splint material to a treatment through which the melting surface layer material ofa burning matchmadc of said splint is maintained in the combustion zone.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings which diagrammatically and as nonlimiting examples illustrate some preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a system for the manufacture of splints in connection with hard-rolling of cardboard.

HO. 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale through part of the two cardboard rolls of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates part of a pattern, according to which bookmatch combs may be manufactured of a cardboard strip or web.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the pattern according to H6. 3.

HO. 5 illustrates part of a further pattern, according to which bookmatch combs may be manufactured of a cardboard web.

FIG. 6 illustrates stre-wing an admixture on the filament,

H6. 7 illustrates roughening of the surface of the core material. I

As is known, common paraffined wood splints burn well and give a flame with a satisfactory height. This depends upon the fact that the free volume", Le. recesses and unevennesses in the surface of the splints plus internal voids, of wood splints is filled only partly with paraffin or a paraffinlike oil product and accordingly has a large surface in relation to the quantity of combustible. The paraffin or the like melts and is gasified under the influence of the heat developed by the combustion of the splints, so that melting paraffin during the combustion may penetrate into the, internal voids of the splint where it becomes gasified and in so doing increases the height of the flame. In addition thereto wood has a comparatively low capillarity which aids in maintaining the paraffin in the zone of the flame.

e.g. thermoplastic, material, such as.

. 2 Paraffined splint of ordinaryv cardboard, which has a computatively highspeciflc weight (0.65 as compared with about 0.4 for wood) and thus a smaller volume and gasifying surface than wood and in addition thereto has a greater cupillurity than wood splints, burns less well and with a lowenflame" height than wood splints, which is due to the fact that the-in ternal voids and surfaces already at the paraffination'step have become completely filled with paraffin, so that paraffin which melts at the combustion cannot penetrate into these voids and there become gasifled on, a free surface, but instead thereof spreads along the surfaceof the splint or match: and in so hardly, Le. compress it in such a way, that the specific weight doing carries off heat which otherwise should promote the gasification of paraffin. (Splints of wood which contain substances which do not mix with paraffin behave in the same way.) The flame is, however, acceptable,'and therefore an acceptable match could be made of splints of ordinary cardboard, provided that its bending strength or rigidity were cient. This is, however, not the casev it is, however, possible to make cardboard splints'with a sufficient bending strength byrolling the cardboard material very of the cardboard is increased from its normal value of ().65 to at least about 1.0, preferably about l.l. Since the internal voids and surfaces of the hard-rolled cardboard splints are small (correspondent to this high specific weight) and in addi- I tion thcrcto become completely filled already at the paraffin'ation step, the flame becomes bad, since the paraffin melting at the combustion cannot penetrate into the internal voids already filled, to become gasificd there at the ignition of the match,

To be able to make useful splints of hard cardboard,'which is a cheap and, according to the inventiompreferred raw material, it is thus necessary to take special measures, which according to the invention have the object of maintaining the paraffin or the corresponding paraff'mlikc oil product (the combustible), particularly on the surface of the splints, in thc flame zone during the combustion phase. These measures could be divided into: 7

1. increasing or extending the surface of the splints not yet paraffined, e.g. by roughening said surface;

ll. increasing or extending the surface of splints a. already before the combustion b. only at the combustion proper by mixing the materialof the surface layer (the paraffin) with some admixture. which has surface extending properties;

the paraffined lll. thickening the surface material melting in the zone of the flame, lV. combining at least two of the above-mentioned measures. I

The surface of the paraffmed splints may be extended or increased already before the combustion by adding to the paraffin or the like a fine-grained or powdered admixture, e.g. wood dust, which makes the surface layer rough or knotty and/or porous. Wood dust gives a satisfactory height of flame and has melt consisting of melted paraffin and wood dust, is, however, and to apply as a surface layer onto a core, and in addition thereto wood dust gives a characteristic color. Instead of wood dust it may be of advantage to utilize powdered polyethylene. which may be emulsified in paraffin and gives an easy-flowing bath which can be easily handled. When the temperature in the zone of the flame during the combustion of the surface layer increases to l25l50C. and more, the polyethylene melts and in so doing acts as a foaming agent and/or thickener which prevents the spreading of the melting material of the surface layer out of the zone of the flame, and thereby brings 7 about a satisfactory height of the flame.

An other admixture or additional substance, which may be compared to-polyethylene and has substantially the same advantages as polyethylene in the relevant respects, is ethylene vinyl acetate tag. of the kind which is sold under the trade but instead thereof spreads along thc'outer surface of j the match, ahead of the flame.

difficult to handle name lilvax which forms foam in the flame during the combustion of the surface layer. Even other plastics might be chosen as admixtures.

In addition to plastics, drying oils which mix with paraffin or the like, may be-utilized. An example of such an oil is that which is manufactured and sold by Esso under the trade name Escopol". Such oils, however, may suffer from certain drawbacks. e.g. a long drying time. It is, however, possible to add a drying agent to promote the drying. The amount added e.g. of Escopol should not exceed 25 percent. A combination of 10 percent Escopol and I percent polyethylene has given acceptable results.

Stearin also gives an acceptable flame which may be considerably improved by the addition of shellac.

The total amount of admixture or additional substance may amount to -30 percent, preferably -25 percent, of the weight of the material ofthe surface layer, or more.

The splints are preferably manufactured in a machine according to FIGS. l-2 by rolling a web I of hard cardboard between a smooth roll 2 and a roll 3 the surface of which has groovesand edges which have a triangular cross section and divide the cardboard web 1 into filaments 4 of a triangular cross section. Part of the profile of the rolls 2, 3 is more clearly illustrated on a greater scale in FIG. 2. Such a filament the of the fact that its cross-sectional area is only 1.73 mm". and

the material comsumption therefore is small.

In the preferred embodiment according to FIG. I the surface layer including one of the above-mentioned admixtures is applied by advancing the filaments 4 of the core material between a pair of rotating paraffining or surface applying rolls 5, 6 which transfer surface layer material from a melt thereof in a trough or tray 7, one of the rolls being partly immersed in the melt. It is, however, also possible to advance the filaments of the core material proper directly through the melt of the surface material.

After that the surface layer including the admixture has been applied by means of the rolls 5, 6 the filaments are advanced through a drying zone 8, not specifically illustrated, to a chopper 9 in which they are chopped into splints 10. Instead of a reciprocating chopper of the illustrated type, it is, of course, also possible to utilize a rotating chopper, also known in the art. Furthermore. it is possible to introduce the fore ends of the filaments in splint carrier bars or plates in a manner well known in the match manufacturing art, before chopping the ends of the filaments into splints.

It is, of course, also possible to apply the constituent of the surface layer which maintains the melting surface layer of the burning match in the combustion zone by extending the surface of, or increasing the viscosity of, said surface layer, before the application of the remaining, main portion of said layer by means of the rolls 5,6 According to FIG. 6 this is carried out by strewing the admixture 21 in the form of powdered polyethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate, which increases the viscosity of the melting material of the surface layer of the match when burning, between the application rolls 5, 6 and the shearing rolls 3, 2.

The above-mentioned roughening of the surface of the core material may be carried out by means of brush rolls 22, 23 which are provided between the pairs of rolls 3, 2 and 5, 6 respectively, according to FIG. 7. The brush rolls 22, 23, however, may also be located ahead of the shearing rolls 3, 2.

' It is also possible to exercise the invention in the manufacturer of bookmatch combs according to FIGS. 3-5. In the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 3 which only illustrates one of several rows of bookmatch combs extending beside each other, the longitudinal direction of the splints or stems is parallel to that of the strip or web, and the cuts 13 between adjacent match stems [4 (which belong to different bookmatch combs), which cuts are parallel to said direction, as well as the cuts 16 between adjacent rows of combs are cut by means of edges of the kind illustrated in FIG. 2 and extending in the circumfercntial direction of the roll 3. Of course, it is necessary that the edges by means of which the cuts l3 are to be cut have gaps, which are located opposite to each other in the axial direction of the roll 3, in the sectors corresponding to the connecting strips 17 or bases of the hookmtitch combs. Through this rolling and cutting operation the match stems 14 are separated from each other, so that surface material may be applied to them by means of the rolls 5 6. After the drying the axial or transversely extending cuts 18, which are located at the ends of the stems l4 and through which adjacent bookmatch combs are entirely separated from each other, are cut by means of a pair of comblike punches which correspond to the chopper 9 in FIG. 1 and are displaced one stem or match width in the axial direction and the width of a connecting strip of a comb (or the length of one stem) in the longitudinal direction of the web or strip I. In this case the web I is advanced the length of one match stem plus the width of the connecting strip of a comb between two subsequent punching operations.

liven if this is less suitable from the dipping and punching points of view, it is also possible to make bookmatch combs having their match stems or splints extending in the longitudinal direction of the web in such a way that the stems ofeach comb pairwise arelocated opposite to each other on opposite sides of a common connecting strip or base according to FIG. 4, in the same way as the bookmatch combs according to FIG. 3. This, however, requires two pairs of punches. In each pair the punches are mutually displaced tag. the length of one match stem plus twice the width of the connecting strip or base in the longitudinal direction of the web, and the width of one match stem in the transverse direction of the web. Furthermore, one of the pairs is displaced twice the width of the connecting strip in the longitudinal direction of the web or the length of one match strip, depending upon the reference point with respectto the punches ofthe other pair. It is hereby presumed that the width of a connecting strip is equal to half of the distance between two cuts l8 located on opposite sides of one and the same connecting strip or base, If it is presumed that all four punches are operable simultaneously, the advancement of the web I between two successive punching operations will be equal to two match stem lengths plus four times the width ofthe connecting strip.

It is also possible to orientate the bookmatch combs in such a manner, that the match stems extend in the axial direction of the rolls 2, 3 as is shown in FIG. 5. In this case. the edges ofthe rolls 3 by means of which the longitudinal edges 13 of the match stems 14 are punched, ofcourse will have to extend axially instcad of eircumfcrentially and in addition thereto be provided with gaps which are located opposite to each other in the circumferential direction and have a width which is equal to twice the width of the base .or connecting strip. For dividing the web 1 into longitudinal strips extending beside each other and each comprising two series of mutually interengaging bookmatch combs the roll 3 is also provided with circular edges, by means of which the separating cuts [6 are cut. The individual bookmatch combs are finally separated from each other by means of different punch edges. one of which corresponds to the chopper 9 in FIG. I and has for its object to cut the adjacent comb strips into pairs of combs, and two groups of edges which are alternately displaced a stem length to the left and to the right respectively, are adapted to create the cuts 18 at the ends ofthe matches.

It is not necessary that match stems belonging to different combs are interlaced between each other, as is shown in FIGS. 3--5. The matches of each comb may alternatively extend immediately beside each other in an ordinary way. The combs may either be doubled as is shown in FIGS. 3-4, or single as is illustrated in FIG. 5. It is also possible to make part of the combs single and the balance double. The match splints or stems may, of course, be oriented parallel to and/or perpendicularly or obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the web I.

be modified in several ways within the scope of the following claims. Thus, the core may, instead of consisting ofrigid cardboard, which is, however, preferred, consist of any inexpensive material, which has sufficient rigidity and leaves a combustion residue which has sufficient rigidity to carry the residue of the match head. Examples of such core materials are splints of such kinds of wood, e.g. pine and rubber tree, as do not absorb paraffin and the like. Furthermore, it is possible to combine the above mentioned admixtures in different proportions or combinations. in this case it is possible to apply the surface layer onto the core either in one single operation or by means of successive application steps. At least one application step may be carried out after that the core filaments have been chopped into splints, which are then coated with a surface layer in the intended combustion zone by being entirely or partly immersed in a melt of the surface layer material. This operation is preferably carried out before the splints are dipped, Le. are provided with their heads. Another possibility is to add the material of the surface layer directly to the paper pulp of which the cardboard web is made. It is also possible to apply the surface layer material onto the web 1 before it is advanced between the knife roll 3 and the roll 2 cooperating therewith. Thus, it is possible to locate the rolls 5,6 or supplernentary rolls for the application of the surface layer material before the rolls 2, 3 in the direction of travel of the web. Furthermore, it is possible within the scope of the invention to reshape the cross section of the paraffined filaments 4 from a triangular cross section of the paraffined filaments 4 from a triangular cross section to a circular one by drawing the filaments through a die having circular openings, in a manner which is ordinarily utilized in the manufacture of wax matches. Finally. it is also possible to create new embodiments by combining theabove alternatives in different ways.

lclaim:

1. Method in the manufacture of match splints which comprise a core of solid material and a surface layer ofa combustible material, in which method a web of said core material is divided through cuts extending in the longitudinal direction of the web into a plurality olindividual strips which are each subdivided into smaller pieces, each comprising at least one splint onto which core material the combustible surface layer is applied, which mainly consists ofa paraffinlike oil product which. melts or gasifies under the influence of the heat developed at the combustion of the match splint, wherein the splint material is subjected to a treatment through which the melting surface layer material of a burning match made of said splint'is maintained in the combustion zone.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the core material. web is rolled between a pair of rolls, at least one of which is provided with knife edges.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein hard-rolled cardboard, the specific weight ofwhich exceeds 1.0 is used as core material.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the splint material is subjected to a surface increasing or extending operation.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the core material is roughened before the combustible surface layer is applied thereto. 4 r

6. Method according to claim 4, wherein the paraffinlike product comprised in the surface layer, before theapplieation of the surface layer onto the core, is mixed with wood dust or another fine-grained admixture, which roughens the surface layer and thereby increases or extends its surface.

7. Method according to claim 4, wherein the paraffialikc oil product comprised in the surface layer. before the application of the surface layer onto the core, is mixed with an admixture which forms a foam under the influence of the heat developed at the combustion ofthe match.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the admixture is a plastic.

polyeth lene.

l0. M ethod according to clalm 8, wherein the admixture is ethylene vinyl acetate.

ll. Method according to claim I, wherein the splint matcrinl is subjected to a treatment increasing the viscosity of the melting material of the surface layer of the match when burning.

12. Method according to claim ll, wherein the pnrall'inllke product comprised in the surface layer, before the application of the surface layer onto the core, is mixed with an admixture which thickensthe melting material of the surface layer under the influence of the heat developed at the combustion of the match.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein the paraffinlike product comprised in the surface layer is mixed with drying oils before .the'application of the surface layer onto the core.

14. Method according to claim l3, wherein a drying agent is added to the oil.

- 15. Method according toclaim 1, wherein stearin, to which preferably shellac has been added, is utilized as a component ofthe material ofthe surface layer.

16. Method according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer, inclusive a possible admixture, is applied onto the core by ad vancing at least one web comprised of a plurality of continu- 19. Method according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the steps through which the material of the surface layer is applied onto-the core is carried out while the cores to be coated with a surface layer are integral with each other and form at least one web.

20. Method according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the steps, through which the material ofthe surface layer is applied to the core, is carried out after that a plurality of initially integral cores to be coated with a surface layer have been separated from each other. V

21. Method according to claim 2, wherein the web by means ofthe knife edges arecut into filaments which have an triangular cross section and are given asubstantially circular cross section after said treatment, by being drawn through dies or the like.

22. Method according to claim 3, wherein the material of the surface layer, inclusive a possible admixture, is added to the paper pulp', from which thecardboard web is made." 

